Clutch.



F. E. FISHER.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJIT, 1914.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 F. E. FISHER.

' CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.11. 1914.

1,1 59,753. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. FISHER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 17, 1914. Serial No. 857,022;

in clutch mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the following specification and claims.

One object of this invention is to provide a device especially designed for use in connection with a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, it may however be employed with any appliance to which it is applicable.

One obJect of this invention is to con struct a device having relatively few parts and of great efficiency, comprising a ratchet wheel keyed to a driven shaft, and a floating spur gear concentric to the driven shaft the spur gear being driven by a pinion in turn actuated by a suitable starting device. The spur gear carries a pawl adapted to engage the ratchet wheel of the driven shaft to operate the latter, means being provided to insure the automatic engagement of the pawl with the ratchet gear upon the operation of the starting device, the means being also adapted to hold the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel when the speed of the driven shaft exceeds that'of the startin device.

Other advantages and improvements will hereafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification:Figure 1, is an end elevation of a starting device for internal combustion engines with parts broken away showing the clutch mechanism in position. Fig. 2, is a vertical section of a fragmentary portion of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a cross sectional view through the driven shaft with the ratchet wheel keyed thereto, also indicating the floating spur gear carrying the pawl showing the latter engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Fig. 4, is a similar view with the pawl disengaged from the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Fig. 5, is a cross sectional view through the spur gear and the yielding spring band engaging the rocker arm of the pawl.

Referring now to the letters of reference placed upon the drawings :-A, indicates an electric generator, B its armature shaft in turn coupled directly with the shaft (not shown) of an internal combustion engine. O is an electric motor, D is a pinion actuated by the electric motor, through a suitable train of gears. E is a ratchet wheel keyed as indicated at Z) to the driven shaft B.

F is a floating spur gear loosely sleeved upon the projecting hubs E of the ratchet wheel E. The spur gear comprises two members bolted or riveted together as shown at f leaving a chambered portion 7 near its center to receive a tilting pawl ,Ur adapted to engage the ratchet wheel E. c is a bushing between the ratchet wheel hubs E and the walls of the'spur gear F.

The pawl G is provided with projecting trunnions g journaled in the walls of the spur gear carrying a rocker arm G recessed at its end to receive the up-turned lip 7 of the yielding band spring H, encircling the hub I of the frame in which the driven shaft is j ournaled.

J denotes a suitable ball-bearing for the shaft B.

G, which being engaged to the annular spring band H, yieldingly grips the stationary hub I of the frame and tilts the pawl into locking relation with the teeth of the ratchet wheel E. The ratchet wheel being keyed to the driven shaft, rotates the latter together with the shaft of the engine (not shown) coupled thereto, causing the engine to start under its own power. WVhen the R. P. M. of the engine shaft exceeds that of the starting motor the ratchet wheel E advances forcing the pawl Gr, out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel,-and upon the ratchet wheel coming to rest, the spring band H holds the pawl Patented Nov. 9, 1915. v

out of engagement with the ratchet wheel Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a clutch mechanism, a shaft, a ratchet wheel keyed to the shaft, a floating spur gear concentric with the shaft and formed of two detachable sections having spaced walls engaging opposite sides of the ratchet wheel, a rocking pawl journaled between the walls of the floating gear adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel, means adapted to tilt the pawl into operative engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel upon the spur gear being ac tuated, said means also adapted to support the pawl in released relation with the ratchet wheel upon the spur gear ceasing to operate the shaft, and means for actuating the spur gear.

2. In a clutch mechanism, a shaft, a ratchet wheel keyed to the shaft and comprising two united sections having spaced walls engaging opposite sides of the ratchet wheel, a floating gear concentric to the shaft, means for actuating the floating gear, a pawl journaled in the floating gear between the walls thereof and adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel, a yieldable element engaging the pawl adapted to tilt the latter into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel upon the operation. of the floating gear, and to maintain said pawl in released relation to the teeth of the ratchet wheel upon the floating gear ceasing to ro tate the shaft.

3. In a clutch. mechanism, a shaft suitably journaled, a ratchet wheel keyed to the shaft, a floating spur gear concentric to the shaft engaging opposite sides of the ratchet wheel, whereby the same will be rotatably mounted thereon, means for actuating the floating gear, a pawl iournaled in the floating gear adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel to operate the shaft, a rocker arm carried by the pawl, a yieldable spring band, having one end engaging the rocker arm encircling the bearing of the shaft to Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents provide a slight drag upon the arm, whereby the pawl may be forced into engagement with the ratchet wheel upon the rotation of the floating gear and to support the pawl in released relation to the ratchet wheel upon the floating gear ceasing to drive the shaft.

to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel, a

rocker arm carried by the pawl, and a yieldable spring band engaged at one end with the rocker arm encircling the bearing of the shaft to provide a frictional drag, whereby the pawl may be tilted in one direction when the gear is actuated and held in released position when the gear ceases to drive the shaft.

5. In a clutch mechanism, a shaft, a casing in which said shaft is journaled, said casing having an integral concentric hub surrounding said shaft, a ratchet wheel keyed to the shaft, a floating gear concentric with the shaft and having spaced walls engaging opposite sides of the ratchet wheel for retaining said floating gear against longitudinal movement relative to the shaft, a pawl disposed within said floating gear for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet upon rotation of the shaft in one direction, a rocker arm secured to said pawl, and a spring band secured to the rocker arm and encircling the rigid hub, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof, I 'sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. FISHER.

\Vitnesses:

SAMUEL E. THOMAS, LENA A. WVEIGAND.

Washington, D. C. 

